Abstract: A structure for sheltering and cooling livestock may include a concrete floored barn having an improved evaporative cooling system. The cooling system may include a misting stack having air inlets, a mixing chamber, and three cooling zones wherein the cooling zones correspond to three different temperature ranges. Each of the cooling zones may include a plurality of nozzles which produce a mist. As air passes through the mixing chamber, the mist may evaporate and cool the air. The cooling system may further include a plurality of large exhaust fans located at an end of the barn distal from the misting stack. The fans may draw the cool air through the barn, over and around the livestock, and out of the barn.

Abstract: A system may provide for delivering a sequence of one or more soaking sprays at a station where an animal is present. The station may include a pressurized pipe supplying a liquid for the soaking spray, a valve and nozzle coupled to the pipe, and a control circuit coupled to the valve. The control circuit may be operable to determine the sequence of the soaking spray using a signal from an animal sensor that is configured to detect the presence of the animal at the station. The system may include an environmental sensor providing at least one signal to the control circuit. The signal from the environmental sensor may be used by the control circuit to determine the sequence for the soaking spray.

Abstract: A system may provide for delivering a sequence of one or more soaking sprays at a station where an animal is present. The station may include a pressurized pipe supplying a liquid for the soaking spray, a valve and nozzle coupled to the pipe, and a control circuit coupled to the valve. The control circuit may be operable to determine the sequence of the soaking spray using a signal from an animal sensor that is configured to detect the presence of the animal at the station. The system may include an environmental sensor providing at least one signal to the control circuit. The signal from the environmental sensor may be used by the control circuit to determine the sequence for the soaking spray.

Abstract: A structure for sheltering and cooling livestock may include a concrete floored barn having an improved evaporative cooling system. The cooling system may include a misting stack having air inlets, a mixing chamber, and three cooling zones wherein the cooling zones correspond to three different temperature ranges. Each of the cooling zones may include a plurality of nozzles which produce a mist. As air passes through the mixing chamber, the mist may evaporate and cool the air. The cooling system may further include a plurality of large exhaust fans located at an end of the barn distal from the misting stack. The fans may draw the cool air through the barn, over and around the livestock, and out of the barn.

Abstract: A system may provide for delivering a sequence of one or more soaking sprays at a station where an animal is present. The station may include a pressurized pipe supplying a liquid for the soaking spray, a valve and nozzle coupled to the pipe, and a control circuit coupled to the valve. The control circuit may be operable to determine the sequence of the soaking spray using a signal from an animal sensor that is configured to detect the presence of the animal at the station. The system may include an environmental sensor providing at least one signal to the control circuit. The signal from the environmental sensor may be used by the control circuit to determine the sequence for the soaking spray.

Abstract: A system may provide for delivering a sequence of one or more soaking sprays at a station where an animal is present. The station may include a pressurized pipe supplying a liquid for the soaking spray, a valve and nozzle coupled to the pipe, and a control circuit coupled to the valve. The control circuit may be operable to determine the sequence of the soaking spray using a signal from an animal sensor that is configured to detect the presence of the animal at the station. The system may include an environmental sensor providing at least one signal to the control circuit. The signal from the environmental sensor may be used by the control circuit to determine the sequence for the soaking spray.

Abstract: A structure for sheltering and cooling livestock may include a concrete floored barn having an improved evaporative cooling system. The cooling system may include a misting stack having air inlets, a mixing chamber, and three cooling zones wherein the cooling zones correspond to three different temperature ranges. Each of the cooling zones may include a plurality of nozzles which produce a mist. As air passes through the mixing chamber, the mist may evaporate and cool the air. The cooling system may further include a plurality of large exhaust fans located at an end of the barn distal from the misting stack. The fans may draw the cool air through the barn, over and around the livestock, and out of the barn.

Abstract: A structure for sheltering and cooling livestock may include a concrete floored barn having an improved evaporative cooling system. The cooling system may include a misting stack having air inlets, a mixing chamber, and three cooling zones wherein the cooling zones correspond to three different temperature ranges. Each of the cooling zones may include a plurality of nozzles which produce a mist. As air passes through the mixing chamber, the mist may evaporate and cool the air. The cooling system may further include a plurality of large exhaust fans located at an end of the barn distal from the misting stack. The fans may draw the cool air through the barn, over and around the livestock, and out of the barn.

Abstract: A sieve separator and a method of slurry separation that uses two or more levels of filtration screens. In some embodiments, the filtration screens on different levels may be used to separate solids of various sizes at each level.

Abstract: A sieve separator and a method of slurry separation that uses two or more levels of filtration screens. In some embodiments, the filtration screens on different levels may be used to separate solids of various sizes at each level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator that extracts solids from a manure slurry. The separator includes a powered rotating drive cylinder, a plurality of fins radially extending from the drive cylinder, and a flexible conveyor belt driven by the drive cylinder. The conveyor belt has a plurality of grooves positioned so that at least one of the fins contacts a substantial portion of one of the grooves as the drive cylinder drives the flexible conveyor belt.

Abstract: A valve for sealing a pipe opening with a seal plate movably attached to the pipe opening and a valve body fixed to the pipe opening. Moving the seal plate towards the pipe opening closes the valve, and moving the seal plate away from the pipe opening opens the valve. The valve body includes a plate stop to limit the movement of the seal plate relative to the pipe opening. For instance, the seal plate, when forced fully away from the pipe opening, is forced to define an oblique plane that is oblique to the plane of the pipe opening. A method of sealing and then unsealing a pipe opening incorporating such a seal plate is also included.